National Congress of American Indians kicks off big winter session

Indianz.Com is tweeting from the event so you can enjoy all of the greatest hits (or misses as the case may be). Here's the Day One Wrapup so you can get to speed on #BenCarsonDNA and #NotMyBudget. And don't forget to follow @indianz for more updates from the meeting.

National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Keel kicks off winter session in Washington DC. Busy day hearing from members of Congress and officials from Trump administration pic.twitter.com/BBN6QxHoYU

National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Keel on lack of leadership at Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Services. “We just don’t know. That is inexcusable.” #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/3J1crYtnxk

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) discusses missing and murdered indigenous women and girls at National Congress of American Indians. “Our government is not doing enough” #mmiw#ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/XC1tgdxyr8

Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Tanana Chiefs Conference and Yurok Tribe thank Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for securing funding for their tribal courts for the first time. Tribes in California and Alaska were excluded for decades due to PL280 #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/lE9MwdnX8l

Senate vote on Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act has been delayed to March or April, executive director Jackie Pata of National Congress of American Indians said. “We’re at 57 votes. We need a few more” Controversial bill recognizes tribal authority over labor unions #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/YWohkiGeop

Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Michigan) is new to Congress but has been active in extending the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. “I came here to get stuff done. I came here to work with others,” Bergman tells National Congress of American Indians #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/H72I4r3YNk

Tribal leaders and Native youth pressing Secretary Ryan Zinke on public safety, water rights and renewable energy at National Congress of American Indians winter session #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/EOm9U8i7r4

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein makes first appearance before National Congress of American Indians. “We know that violent crime in Indian Country is far too common. We will reverse that trend.” #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/A6MnALU6cl

Another first timer at National Congress of American Indians is Treasurer Jovita Carranza. She is vowing to improve access to capital in Indian Country and to launch a long delayed tribal advisory committee at the Department of Treasury #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/Y4TPm5Q89r

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson shares bad news about his Indian ancestry. “I got the DNA test and I didn’t have any. I was really disappointed. But I got the spirit” He didn’t mention plans to cut Indian housing funds in #TrumpBudget#ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/MMnhXdOAX1

A fiery Kitcki Carroll (Cheyenne-Arapaho) said tribal leaders have given Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson a pass on Indian housing budget cuts and negative policy statements. “We don’t need to be nice to him about that” #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/YeaooVjmLR

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) said infighting in Congress has led to a power grab from the executive branch aka the President. “Quit this bickering about Republicans and Democrats. How are you going to solve this problem?” #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/H1vblBjOcD

Whether it’s the Bears Ears National Monument, the Dakota Access Pipeline, or uranium mining at Grand Canyon, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona) said the Trump administration “leans heavily, if not entirely, to the industry side” at the expense of tribes #ECWS2018#NoDAPLpic.twitter.com/XpnsGRSHOu

Rep. Norma Torres (D-California) is calling for more Native American staffers in Congress. There are fewer than 10, according to some accounts. Her legislative assistant on the House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs is Native. #ECWS2018pic.twitter.com/1U4mKHxxsL